A 17-year-old boy has admitted to the manslaughter of the pensioner who died during the riots last summer.

The Hounslow teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, punched Richard Mannington Bowes in the face, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground.

The 68-year-old Have Green resident was attacked at about 10.30pm on August 8 last year near his home in Spring Bridge Road, Ealing, after being surrounded by a group of youths.

He never regained consciousness and died in hospital on August 11.

The youth admitted manslaughter and violent disorder.

The prosecution is deciding whether to pursue a trial on an alternative murder charge.

He previously admitted burgling a Tesco Express, William Hill bookmaker's, a Fat Boy Thai restaurant and a Blockbuster store in Ealing.

His mother, who is accused of hampering the police investigation into Mr Bowes' death was facing trial alongside him at the Inner London Crown Court today (12), accused of perverting the course of justice, which she denies.

The 31-year-old woman, a student at South Bank University, is alleged to have destroyed and disposed of clothing her son wore, and an Adidas bag, on the night of the attack.